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(11) | EP 3 363 977 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | LOCKING ELEMENT, AND A COMBINATION OF A CONTAINER WITH A LOCK, AND THE LOCKING ELEMENT |
| (57) The invention relates to a locking element, comprising: - an elongate body, with a plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the elongate body, which body comprises a slot arranged through the body, which slot extends in longitudinal direction and ends on a first end into a first cylindrical end surface and ends on a second end into a second cylindrical end surface, wherein the axis of the second cylindrical end surface is perpendicular to the plane; - a hook part, fixed to the elongate body, which hook part is parallel to the plane; and - a frame, comprising two spaced apart walls and an axle, extending between the two walls, which axle is arranged in the slot; wherein the axle is shiftable from a stowed position, in which the axle is accommodated in the slot near the first end, to an extended open position, in which extended open position the axle is accommodated in the slot near the second end, and in which extended open position the elongate body is pivotable around the axle to an extended closed position. The invention furthermore relates to a container, such as a bulk container with a lock, and a locking element according to the invention. |
[0002] Containers such as bulk containers are used in the transport to move products and raw materials between different locations. The containers comprise a space enclosed by a bottom and a circumferential wall, and are available in both open-top versions as well as entirely closed versions, which latter also have a lid fixed to the circumferential wall. These containers often also have one or more doors in the circumferential wall in order to load or unload the container, which are hingeable between an open and a closed position. These doors are most often provided with a lock in order to keep the door in the closed state until it is intended to open the door.
[0003] An example of a known lock used for bulk containers comprises a first bar, pivotable around its axis between the open and the closed position of the lock, provided with first coupling means and arranged to the at least one door, furthermore provided with a lever arranged perpendicular to the first bar, which first coupling means engage with second coupling means arranged to the door frame in the closed position, and are released from the second coupling means in the open position. In order to keep the door in the closed position, the door is provided with two upright walls, extending around the horizontal bar, through which walls a locking pin can be provided, such that the horizontal bar is fixed between the door, the upright walls and the locking pin, in order to retain the horizontal bar and thereby keep the lock closed.
[0004] In order to increase the efficiency of transport, bulk containers are frequently filled close to or up to the maximum level. Since the material held in bulk containers will typically have a tendency to expand, and especially when the filling degree of the container is relatively high, there will in many cases be a significant development of pressure on the door from the inside. When the door of the container is opened by the container by the removal of the locking pin, the material inside the container, of which the personnel removing the locking pin may not be aware which amount of pressure the material will have developed, may forcefully bring the door towards its open position, which may lead to serious accidents and injuries to the personnel using the bulk container, which may for instance be hit by the door.
[0005] It is an object of the invention to redjuce or even obviate the above-mentioned disadvantages.
[0006] This object is achieved with a locking element, comprising:
- an elongate body, with a plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the elongate body, which body comprises a slot arranged through the body, which slot extends in longitudinal direction and ends on a first end into a first cylindrical end surface and ends on a second end into a second cylindrical end surface, wherein the axis of the second cylindrical end surface is perpendicular to the plane;
- a hook part, fixed to the elongate body, which hook part is parallel to the plane; and
- a frame, comprising two spaced apart walls and an axle, extending between the two walls, which axle is arranged in the slot;
[0007] The locking element according to the invention may be used to arrest or retain the lock of the door of a bulk container between its closed position and open position in its extended closed position. The hook part and/or the elongate body will retain the lock of the bulk container to move to its fully opened position, which allows personnel to evaluate the amount of pressure built up on the door before the door is completely or fully opened.
[0008] The first and second cylindrical end surface will preferably extend completely through the elongate body, and the axle will be accomodated close to either of these end surfaces.
[0009] In the stowed position, the elongate body and the hook part fixed to it will at least be limited in their hingability: the axle is arranged at a distance of the end of the elongate body, and consequently, the elongate body will extend on both sides of the axle and abut against the frame. In this position, the elongate body may be suspended from the axle.
[0010] When the elongate body is shifted to the extended open position, the elongate body will only be arranged to the axle with an end portion, which allows the elongate body to hinge, e.g. to an extended closed position.
[0011] The elongate body may only be movable to its extended closed position via its extended open position and vice versa.
[0012] The elongate body or the hook member may be provided with a handle, e.g. a rib or protrusion, extending from the elongate body and/or hook part in order to assist in the movement of the respective parts between the positions discussed.
[0013] The elongate body and the hook part may be typically made out of one part, which means that there is no actual fixing step necessary to fix the hook part to the elongate body, which eases production and lowers production costs.
[0014] The slot may for instance be made by drilling the two cylindrical end surfaces through the elongate body, and by subsequently milling the path between these channels, although other similar methods may also be used.
[0015] The locking element is preferably made of steel, since it has been found that locking elements made of steel will be able to withstand high forces, to which the locking element will typically be exposed in when keeping a door of a bulk container closed.
[0016] The locking element may be fixed to the door via its frame with suitable fixing means, e.g. screws and/or bolts, welding or other similar techniques.
[0017] In a first preferred embodiment of the locking element according to the invention, the axis of the first cylindrical end surface is parallel to the plane.
[0018] In this preferred embodiment, the hook part will be substantially parallel to the door in its stowed position, which further reduces the risk of injuries since the hook part will no longer stick out from the outside of the bulk container.
[0019] In a second preferred embodiment of the locking element according to the invention, the slot is uniformly twisted.
[0020] A uniformly twisted slot, which is a slot without (discrete) steps, will allow a fluid movement of the elongate body between the stowed and extended open position. In addition, such slots will be less prone to wear.
[0021] In a third preferred embodiment of the locking element according to the invention, the hook part is arranged to the first end of the elongate body.
[0022] It is preferred to fix the hook part to the first end of the elongate body since, in that case, the combination of the hook part and the elongate body will have a shape which makes the production of the hook part/elongate body combination easier.
[0023] In a fourth preferred embodiment of the locking element according to the invention, the hook part is J-shaped or U-shaped.
[0024] J-shaped or U-shaped hook parts have especially been found able to retain the lock of the bulk containers of the prior art in a proper and reliable way.
[0025] The invention further relates to a combination, comprising:
- a container, such as a bulk container, provided with at least one door;
- a lock for locking the door and fixed to the outside of the container, moveable between an open and a closed position, and a lever for operating the lock between the open and closed position; and
- a locking element according to any of the preceding claims, fixed to the outside of the container,
[0026] The hook part and/or elongate member allows personnel to evaluate the pressure developed inside the bulk container, before bringing the lock to its fully open position.
[0027] The lock provided on the container is not the locking element according to the invention, which is also provided on the container.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment of the combination according to the invention the lock comprises:
- a first bar, pivotable around its axis between the open and the closed position of
the lock, provided with first coupling means and arranged to the at least one door;
wherein the lever is arranged perpendicular to to the first bar; and - second coupling means arranged to the door frame
wherein the first and second coupling means are engaged in the closed position and are released in the open position.
[0029] These and other elements of the invention will be further elucidated in the following figures.
Figures 1A and 1B show a perspective views of a locking element according to the invention in the stowed position.
Figure 2 shows a front view of the locking element according to the invention in the stowed position.
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a combination of a container and a locking element according to the invention in the stowed position.
Figure 4 shows a side view of a combination of a container and a locking element according to the invention in the extended open and closed position.
[0030] Figures 1A, 1B and 2 show a locking element 1 according to the invention, with a frame 2, two spaced apart upright walls 3, 4, and an axle 5 extending between the walls 3, 4. The locking element 1 further comprises a J-shaped hook member 6, attached to an elongate body 7. The elongate body 7 comprises slot 8 with, at a first end 9 of the elongate body 7 a first channel 10. Spaced apart from the first end 9, the slot 8 comprises a second channel 11. Second channel 11 is perpendicular to the first channel 10.
[0031] In its stowed position, the axle 5 will be arranged in channel 11 and the elongate body 7 will not be hingable around axle 5 since the elongate body 7 extends on both sides of the axle 5 while lying against frame 2.
[0032] The elongate body 7 is shiftable from its shown stowed position to an extended open position, in which the axle 5 lies in the channel 10, instead of channel 11, by shifting it through slot 8. While shifting, the elongate body 7 will turn approximately 90 degrees around axis 12. By the time that the elongate body 7 reaches its extended open position, it has become pivotable around axis 13.
[0033] Figure 3 shows the locking element 1 as attached to the door 30 of a bulk container 31 with an open top. The container 31 is filled with material 32 pushing against door 31. The bulk container is provided with a known locking mechanism, comprising a vertical bar 33, a lever 34 fixed to the vertical bar, hingeable in direction A, which causes engaged coupling means 35 at the bottom of the container 31 to disengage. Lever 34 is held in its locked position by a locking pin 36, which neutralizes the force exerted on the locking mechanism by contents 32. Upon removal of the locking pin 36 in order to open the door 30, the contents 32 will, when opening the door by actuating lever 34, in a container according to the prior art, forcefully open the door 30. In the container according to the present invention, the locking element 1 will serve to retain the horizontal bar 34 in a position between the locked position and the open position.
1. Locking element, comprising:
- an elongate body, with a plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the elongate body, which body comprises a slot arranged through the body, which slot extends in longitudinal direction and ends on a first end into a first cylindrical end surface and ends on a second end into a second cylindrical end surface, wherein the axis of the second cylindrical end surface is perpendicular to the plane;
- a hook part, fixed to the elongate body, which hook part is parallel to the plane; and
- a frame, comprising two spaced apart walls and an axle, extending between the two walls, which axle is arranged in the slot;
wherein the axle is shiftable from a stowed position, in which the axle is accommodated in the slot near the first end, to an extended open position, in which extended open position the axle is accommodated in the slot near the second end, and in which extended open position the elongate body is pivotable around the axle to an extended closed position.2. Locking element according to claim 1, wherein the the axis of the first cylindrical
end surface is parallel to the plane.
3. Locking element according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the slot is uniformly twisted.
wherein the slot is uniformly twisted.
4. Locking element according to claim 1, 2 or 3,
wherein the hook part is arranged to the first end of the elongate body.
wherein the hook part is arranged to the first end of the elongate body.
5. Locking element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hook part is
J-shaped or U-shaped.
6. Combination, comprising:
- a container, such as a bulk container, provided with at least one door;
- a lock for locking the door and fixed to the outside of the container, moveable between an open and a closed position, and a lever for operating the lock between the open and closed position; and
- a locking element according to any of the preceding claims, fixed to the outside of the container,
wherein the hook part is at a distance of the lever of the lock in the stowed position and the extended open position of the locking element, and wherein the lever of the lock is retained by the hook part in the extended closed position of the locking element.7. Combination according to claim 6, wherein the lock comprises:
- a first bar, pivotable around its axis between the open and the closed position
of the lock, provided with first coupling means and arranged to the at least one door;
wherein the lever is arranged perpendicular to to the first bar; and
- second coupling means arranged to the door frame
wherein the first and second coupling means are engaged in the closed position and
are released in the open position.